Daugherty score given life by Guerrero team

     (AAPNW-TN) “I seek to express the energies, ambiguities, paradoxes and wit of American popular culture in my work,” said Michael Daugherty, “and the Nashville Symphony has done a truly remarkable job of bringing this music to life.” The Symphony’s 2009 CD recording of “Metropolis Symphony,” received five GRAMMY® nominations in the categories: Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral, Performance, Best Instrumental Soloist with an Orchestra, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, and Best Engineered Album, Classical.

     In addition, Blanton Alspaugh has earned a nomination for Producer of the Year, Classical, in recognition for his work on Daugherty’s composition. Winners will be announced at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards on February 13, 2011.

     Daugherty’s “Metropolis Symphony” is the orchestra’s first release with Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero. “This continued recognition from the Recording Academy is a testament not just to the growing artistic profile of our orchestra, but also to Giancarlo’s remarkable leadership and to Michael Daugherty’s singular voice as a composer,” said NSO President Alan Valentine.

     According to the League of American Orchestras, Daugherty is one of America’s 10 most performed living composers. His “Metropolis Symphony” pays tribute to the American comic book hero “Superman,” while the other recording on the disc, the piano concerto “Deus ex Machina” is inspired by trains of the past and future. The featured soloist, pianist Terrence Wilson was recognized with the GRAMMY® nomination for Best Instrumental Soloist with an Orchestra.

     As of today, the Symphony’s total number of GRAMMY® nominations, over the past decade stands at 13.